What does the future hold for Leamington's major employer, the H.J. Heinz Co.?

That's the question Leamington Mayor John Paterson and Chatham-Kent Essex MP Dave Van Kesteren were asking Friday following news the company has been purchased by an investment group headed by billionaire Warren Buffet for $23.3 billion.

Both Paterson and Van Kesteren said news of the sale took them by complete surprise.

The Heinz plant in Leamington, the second largest Heinz plant in the world, employs 750 full-time people and an additional 300 part-time workers during harvest.

Tomatoes processed at the plant are grown in both Chatham-Kent and Essex Counties.

Paterson said although he's concerned about the plant's future in Leamington, knowing Buffet is the buyer is a bit of a relief.

"Buffet isn't the kind of person who buys stuff to break it up and throw it away to make money,'' he said. "He buys long-term, buys quality companies and we know H.J. Heinz is exactly that.''

The mayor said he has so far been unsuccessful in getting information out of Heinz Canada in Toronto.

Michael Mullen, Heinz senior vice-president of corporate and government affairs said in a statement it's business as usual at Heinz operations around the world until the transaction receives shareholder and regulatory approval.

Van Kesteren noted H.J. Heinz has been an institution in Canada since 1911.

He said the Leamington plant is an excellent facility and hopes it will be expanded under the new ownership.

"It's my hope the Leamington plant will be around for another 100 years,'' he said.

Van Kesteren and Paterson met earlier this week in Ottawa with Agriculture Minister Jerry Ritz to try and slow down or dissuade the federal government from going forward with its packaging deregulation plans.

Paterson said more talks are planned on the topic in the future.

The proposed purchase of Heinz is the richest deal ever in the food industry.

The deal is intended to help Heinz accelerate its expansion from a dominant American name into a presence on grocery shelves worldwide.

The deal, expected to close in the third quarter, sent shares of Heinz soaring. The company stock price was up nearly 20%, closing at $72.50 Thursday on the New York Stock Exchange.

Although ketchup and sauces still account for just under half its sales, Heinz has expanded over the years to include a much broader array of products across 200 countries.

The business dates back to 1869 when Henry John Heinz and neighbour Clarence Noble began shipping grated horseradish, bottled in clear glass to showcase its purity. It wasn't until 1876 that the company introduced its flagship product, America's first commercial ketchup.